Transfer ring or drum apparatus having adjustable circumference

Abstract

Tire-making apparatus ( 20 ) defining an outer or inner circumference ( 18 ) to serve as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface, respectively, utilizes a frame ( 16 ) having a central axis ( 52 ) and a plurality of multi-sectional segments ( 28 ) which are moveable radially with respect to the central axis and include arcuate surfaces which collectively define the apparatus circumference. Each segment includes a primary section ( 60 ) and a secondary section ( 62 ) which flanks the primary section. The primary and secondary sections are connected so that as the segments are moved radially of the central axis, the primary and secondary sections move relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus to help maintain the uniformity, or roundness, of the surface of the circumference collectively defined by the segments.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus defining an outer circumference or an inner circumference to serve as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface, respectively, comprising:
 a frame having a central axis, and the apparatus circumference extends along an arc which surrounds and is substantially centered about the central axis; 
 a plurality of multi-sectional segments mounted upon the frame and in side-by-side relationship about said central axis thereof, said segments being moveable radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame and including arcuate surfaces which collectively define the circumference of the apparatus; 
 at least one segment including a primary section and a secondary section disposed to one side of the primary section wherein each of the primary section and the secondary section has a circumference-defining surface having a length which extends along the arc of the apparatus circumference, and the length of each primary and secondary section has a center, and 
 means for connecting the secondary section to the primary section so that as the segments are moved radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame, the primary and secondary sections move relative to one another so that the centers of the lengths of the primary and secondary sections move toward and away from one another along the arc of the circumference of the apparatus; and 
 the means for connecting includes means for coordinating the relative movement between the primary and secondary sections of the at least one segment with the movement of the at least one segment radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame wherein the means for coordinating includes mechanisms which interlock the primary and secondary sections together so that movement of the at least one segment radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of the primary and secondary sections relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus, and wherein the mechanisms include a rack and gear assembly connected between the primary section and the secondary section. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the rack and gear assembly includes a rotatable gear which is rotatably connected to one of the primary section or the secondary section of the at least one segment and a teeth-defining rack which is joined to the other of the secondary section or the primary section of the at least one segment, and the gear and teeth-defining rack are in meshed relationship with one another so that movement of the at least one segment radially inwardly or outwardly relative to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of the primary and secondary sections relative to one another as aforesaid. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein the primary and secondary sections include an arrangement of finger portions and cooperating slots for accepting the finger portions so that when the primary and secondary sections are moved relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus, the finger portions move into and out of the cooperating slots. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus defining an outer circumference or an inner circumference to serve as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface, respectively, in a tire-making process, said apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a central axis; 
 a plurality of multi-sectional segments mounted upon the frame in side-by-side relationship about the central axis thereof, said segments being radially moveable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame between expanded and contracted conditions and including arcuate surfaces which collectively define the circumference of the apparatus as the segments are moved radially inwardly and outwardly as aforesaid; 
 each segment including a primary section and a secondary section which flanks the primary section of its corresponding segment, and the primary and secondary sections are arranged so that each secondary section is positioned between a pair of primary sections as a path is traced around the circumference of the apparatus; and 
 means for connecting the secondary section of each segment to the pair of primary sections between which the secondary section is positioned so that movement of the segments radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of the secondary section and said pair of primary sections relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus to help maintain the uniformity of the circumference collectively defined by the segments; and 
 wherein the means for connecting includes mechanisms which interlock each secondary section to the pair of primary sections between which the secondary section is positioned so that movement of the segments radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of each secondary section relative to the pair of primary sections between which the secondary section is positioned along the circumference of the apparatus; and 
 wherein the mechanisms includes a rack and gear assembly including a rotatable gear associated with one of the secondary section and said pair of primary sections and a teeth-defining rack having a length which is associated with the other of said pair of primary sections and the secondary section, and the rotatable gear and teeth-defining rack are in meshed relationship with one another so that movement of the segments radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of the secondary section and said pair of primary sections relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus as aforesaid as the gear is rollably moved along the length of the teeth-defining rack. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein there are two teeth-defining racks, and each of the two teeth-defining racks is joined to a corresponding primary section of said pair of primary sections, and the gear is rotatably attached to the secondary section positioned between said pair of primary sections so as to be in meshed relationship with the two teeth-defining racks so that as the segments are moved radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame, the teeth-defining racks are moved relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus as the gear rotates between the teeth-defining racks. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in  claim 5  wherein the primary and secondary section of each segment include an arrangement of finger portions and cooperating slots for accepting the finger portions so that when the primary and secondary sections of each segment are moved relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus, the finger portions move into and out of the cooperating slots. 
     
     
       7. In a tire-making apparatus including a frame having a central axis and further including a circumference about which tire components can be formed or with which tire components can be grasped and wherein the circumference is collectively defined by a plurality of multi-sectional arcuate-shaped segments mounted in a side-by-side relationship about the frame and which are moveable radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame to accommodate an adjustment of the diameter of the circumference of the apparatus and wherein the apparatus circumference extends along an arc which surrounds and is centered about the central axis of the frame, the improvement characterized in that:
 each segment includes a primary section and a secondary section which flanks the primary section of its segment and wherein each of the primary section and the secondary section has a circumference-defining surface having a length which extends along the arc of the apparatus circumference, and the length of each primary and secondary section has a center; 
 one of the primary and secondary sections of each segment being joined to the frame of the equipment for movement of the joined primary or secondary section radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame during an adjustment of the diameter of the circumference of the apparatus; and 
 the primary and secondary sections being connected to one another so that as the joined primary or secondary section is moved radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame, the other of the secondary or primary section bodily moves relative to the joined primary or secondary section so that the centers of the lengths of the primary and secondary sections move toward and away from one another along the arc of the circumference of the apparatus; and 
 means for coordinating the relative movement between the primary and secondary section of each segment with the movement of the joined primary or secondary section radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame wherein the means for coordinating includes mechanisms which interlock the primary and secondary section of each segment together so that movement of the joined primary or secondary section radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of the primary and secondary sections relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus and wherein the mechanisms include a rack and gear assembly connected between the primary section and the secondary section of each segment so that movement of the ioined primary or secondary section radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of the frame effects the movement of the primary and secondary sections relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus by a corresponding amount. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein the primary and secondary sections include an arrangement of finger portions and cooperating slots for accepting the finger portions so that when the primary and secondary sections are moved relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus, the finger portions move into and out of the cooperating slots.